The focus shouldn't be on Specter, but on these Senators/seats,

[ProSense]

Republicans up for re-election in 2010:

Bennett, Robert F. (R-UT)
Bond, Christopher S. (R-MO), retiring
Brownback, Sam (R-KS), retiring
Bunning, Jim (R-KY), possibly retiring
Burr, Richard (R-NC)
Coburn, Tom (R-OK)
Crapo, Mike (R-ID)
DeMint, Jim (R-SC)
Grassley, Chuck (R-IA)
Gregg, Judd (R-NH), retiring
Isakson, Johnny (R-GA)
Martinez, Mel (R-FL), retiring
McCain, John (R-AZ)
Murkowski, Lisa (R-AK)
Shelby, Richard C. (R-AL)
Thune, John (R-SD)
Vitter, David (R-LA)
Voinovich, George V. (R-OH)

If the Dems can pick up a few of these seats, it will not matter what Specter does.




Edited to indicate another retiring Sen.

[wryter2000]

1. Actually...

The ones we need to worry about are Dems like Landreiu and the Nelsons.

[ProSense]

2. Actually no, not in the context of this OP.

Neither are up for re-election in 2010.

[wryter2000]

10. You're right

I read too fast. :)

[PBS Poll-435]

6. Landrieu was just reelected.

With 52% of the vote vs. 46% for her Republican (Former Democrat) opponent.

After 2002 and the runoff, I am glad we don't have to revisit this race until 2014.

[LonePirate]

3. Brownback is giving up his seat to run for governor

He is not a candidate in the Rethug primary which is a contest between two sitting House reps - Moran, a conservative and Tiahrt, a wacko, religious zealot conservative. With Sebelius now at HHS, there is no major Democratic candidate in the state capable of competing with either of those No men.

[ProSense]

4. Too bad, maybe a Dem will appear. n/t

[PBS Poll-435]

5. Maybe the Marlboro Man?

Scott Kleeb could give it another go, eh?

[PhilosopherKing]

7. Don't we have any good Dems in SC

so that we can "pick-off" that a-hole DeMint?

[rpannier]

8. I believe in multi-tasking

The above mentioned and Spectre have to go

[quaker bill]

9. At 65 to 67 seats

we will have a large enough margin for error that the occasional defection on an issue will not matter. Sufficient discipline is easier to create when the outcome is all but inevitable. You need a few seats to spare so that an individual's vote holds less leverage in the negotiations.

In short, they can be part of the governing majority or not, and count on their priorities getting attention accordingly. The incentive for attention can shift toward playing ball as opposed to disruption, or "the squeaky wheel does not get the grease".

Personally, I look forward to the day, where like FDR, President Obama has to very rarely deal with the 16 Republicans left in the Senate.